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It has been 3 years since Woodley has produced at the level of his contract.

Sorry, but in LB years that about 1/3 of his useable career. Even if fully healed, Woodley is not worth his $14M salary cap hit. I'm afraid the Steelers badly err'd with this signing and they continue to have to deal with it.

Time to make the break and move on.

Sorry, unfortunately we don't have the cap space to break the bank for a one year wonder.
Let another team pay big $$$$$$.
If Woodley is healthy I see no reason why he can't be productive.
Hmmmm, IIRC didn't we have another OLB who hit his peak at age 30?

Sorry, unfortunately we don't have the cap space to break the bank for a one year wonder.
Let another team pay big $$$$$$.
If Woodley is healthy I see no reason why he can't be productive.
Hmmmm, IIRC didn't we have another OLB who hit his peak at age 30?

Exactly why I am optimistic the Steelers won't over do a Worilds contract, they can't afford it.

Harrison was still playing 16 gms per season at age 32, likely because he was a late starter.

Face it, some guys are injury prone either because of genetics or because of conditioning. Woodley, at his current age, could well be the equivalent of JH at age 35. You wouldn't pay JH $14M a season at age 35.

With the start of the NFL new year eight days away, it has been largely quiet on the Steelers’ front.

Expect that to change this week as the Steelers have to shed roughly $5.75 million to get in compliance with the salary cap and also clear enough room so they can sign free agents.

Now that the spending ceiling has been set at $133 million for 2014, the Steelers don’t have to work the salary cap based on projections, and they should have more flexibility with the cap rising $10 million from last year.

Releasing offensive tackle Levi Brown will save the Steelers $6.25 million and put them under the cap for 2014, albeit with more moves to make.

Cornerback Ike Taylor, whose base salary in 2014 is $7 million, is a candidate for a significant pay cut, and the Steelers could cut ties with the 11th-year veteran. Given how thin they are at cornerback, it would make sense for the Steelers to bring Taylor back for one more season, assuming the two sides can reach common ground on a number that works for both of them.

The Steelers could also restructure the contracts of a couple of players by converting base salary into signing bonus money that can be spread out as far as cap hits over the length of the contract. Re-signing players going into the final year of their contract is another way to clear more cap room this year.

Tight end Heath Miller, whose cap number is $9.47 million in 2014, is a prime candidate for a long-term deal.

Whatever combination the Steelers employ to clear cap room, look for them to start making moves this week.

Here a few morning links:

Jason Worilds tops the list of the 21 Steelers players who can become free agents on March 11. If the Steelers don’t re-sign the outside linebacker prior to the start of free agency, it may be difficult to keep him in Pittsburgh. The reason: Worilds, who turned 26 today, will be one of the top pass-rushers on the open market.

Wide receiver Plaxico Burress is eyeing a return to the playing field after missing last season with a torn rotator cuff. Burress, who will be a free agent on March 11, doesn’t appear to be in the Steelers’ plans but he doesn’t want an injury to bring an end to his career.

Alabama’s C.J. Mosley didn’t generate much buzz at the NFL scouting combine as he only participated in a handful of the physical tests and did not run the 40-yard dash. He is still expected to be a first-round pick – and a player who could interest the Steelers – and Mosley received a strong endorsement from Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban.

Alabama’s C.J. Mosley didn’t generate much buzz at the NFL scouting combine as he only participated in a handful of the physical tests and did not run the 40-yard dash. He is still expected to be a first-round pick – and a player who could interest the Steelers – and Mosley received a strong endorsement from Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban.

SUHWEET!! Really like the kid.

Of course, Mosley as well as the WRs, Ebron an NT and all of the players we've all discussed. They'll analyze them all and figure which players really have the *it* factor

Cutting Levi and Ike get the Steelers $7,576,934 under the cap
More than enough to sign their draft picks.
Add in Heaths' deal and the possible extension for Troy and we can sign a solid CB and/or safety

Ike Taylor quotes. Sounds like a guy who has been talking with his agent to the Steelers over the last couple days about a paycut...And may be on his way out.

“Hopefully I am back as a Steeler in 2014,” Taylor said. “Time will tell. We will see. When you get around 33-34, they always try to find a reason not to pay you. They always … and it has been going for years.”

“I don’t know. I am in a situation where you can say my cap is high for a veteran guy but hey, I am still a top veteran guy, I feel,” Taylor said. “You can say my play declined but I am asking where?”